I cannot believe it is already the beginning of my third week in Quito! My time volunteering abroad here is more than half way over. At Hospital del Sur Enrique Garcés, I observed in the Obstetrics department and started my day off with a “ligadura” procedure, which translates to tubal ligation. This procedure blocks the fallopian tubes to prevent any future pregnancies. Next was a C-section. From the start of the incision, the baby was delivered within only 20 minutes! After the C-section, I observed a natural birth including a complication that arose after the delivery of the baby.
The following day, I volunteered in the Emergency Room and listened to morning rounds and the treatment plans for the patients. I then observed a left knee arthroscopic MCL repair in the Surgery department. After this was a surgery to repair a left diaphyseal humerus fracture which included the surgeons placing a titanium plate and 6 screws. I met a friend after volunteering, and we walked to Mercado Artesanal where I bought presents for friends and family back home. Later that night, we headed to Finn McCool’s to watch Brazil beat Argentina in the Copa América.
On Wednesday, I observed a right femur fracture repair and a right ACL repair. I then went on a long walk with a friend near Plaza Foch, and we sat outside and drank coffee at a popular coffee shop.
